A mother accused of murdering her young son and dumping his body in a landfill wiped away tears as her criminal trial began.
Leilani Simon is on trial in Georgia on charges of malice murder, felony murder, concealment of death and making false statements to police following the death of her 20-month-old son, Quinton, in October 2022.
She is accused of beating her son to death and throwing him in the trash. Her small body was found in a landfill a month after her disappearance.
On Monday, as the jury entered the courtroom to begin the trial, Simon wiped tears from his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
A mother accused of murdering her young son and dumping his body in a landfill wiped away tears as her criminal trial began.
Leilani Simon faces a jury trial in Georgia on charges of malice murder, felony murder, concealment of death and making false statements to police following the death of her 20-month-old son, Quinton, in October 2022.
She is accused of beating her son to death and throwing him in the trash. Her small body was found in a landfill a month after her disappearance.
Simon was seen on camera lifting his glasses and putting his head in his hands, using his palms to wipe his eyes before switching to a tissue.
Police allege that Simon had met with a drug dealer shortly before the murder.
She allegedly told police that her son was kidnapped by an intruder who broke into her home, but the Chatham County Sheriff immediately suspected foul play.
The state was the first to deliver its opening remarks Monday morning.
Prosecutor Tim Dean said: “The defendant violated the most basic and sacred trust of a parent in the most horrific way.”
“In the middle of the night, she killed her own son, got into her car with his body, drove to a dumpster and then threw him away like he was a piece of trash.
“She would go home, fall asleep as if everything was normal, wake up in the morning and report it to the police.”
The court heard her small body was found “unfortunately in pieces”.
On Monday, as the jury entered the courtroom to begin the trial, Simon wiped tears from his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
Prosecutor Tim Dean shared a photo of the dumpsters as he told the jury: “In the middle of the night, she killed him, her own son, got into her car with his body, drove to a dumpster and then “He threw it away like it was a piece.” of garbage.’
Dean played a distressing clip of a “digital suicide note” Simon left months before Quinton’s death.
In it, a hysterical, sobbing Simon described his youngest daughter, Skye, as “a beautiful girl.”
‘I wish I could see you grow. I wish I could hug you during your first heartbreak, because my mom didn’t. Skye, I love you, girl.’
She then referenced her oldest son, Zane, and told him: “You’re so handsome, so sweet, so protective.”
‘Someday you will be a good man. I hope you grow up and learn what loyalty is, and learn how to treat a woman and how to love her.’
Then, turning to Quinton, he said. ‘You are the middle child. You’re so happy all the time, you smile all the time.’
The court heard his small body was found ‘unfortunately in pieces’
Leilani was finally arrested on Nov. 21, just days after authorities found Quinton’s remains in a Savannah landfill.
Simon then turned her attention to her on-off boyfriend, Daniel Youngkin.
“Danny, I loved you,” he said. ‘I loved the ground you walked on. I would do anything for you.
‘Even when I was pregnant with your son and I hated myself every day, because you didn’t want to have sex with me, you didn’t want to love me, you just didn’t love me.
‘I wanted you more than life itself, but you have shown that it was only one way, that feeling, that love, that loyalty. It was all one way… Now I’m at the river, bye Danny.’
Quinton was last seen alive on October 5 by Simon’s boyfriend Daniel Youngkin, who saw him at a pack-n-play at 6am.
Three hours later, Leilani reported Quinton missing from her home. He claimed to have woken up at 9:30 a.m. and found the door to the house open and his son was not there.
Simon’s two other children were removed from his custody a week after Quinton was reported missing.
Simon was eventually arrested on November 21, just days after authorities found Quinton’s remains in a Savannah landfill.